CHAPTER SEVEN: ELLIE'S CHOICE

Their growing attachment for one another did not escape the others' attention, and Legolas was subjected to quite a bit of good-natured teasing when Ellie was out of earshot. The Elf chose to ignore it, keeping his usual cool demeanor. But inside, Legolas' emotions were churning. Ellie drew him like no other Elf, male or female, had ever done before. With each passing day, and against his better judgment, he grew ever fonder of the girl. In truth, he was powerless to prevent it. But he did not like it one bit.

Throughout his entire life he had been known for his dispassionate manner, his aloofness. Few ever knew his innermost thoughts; even fewer could guess at his feelings. Part of it, of course, was due to his royal title. As Prince of Mirkwood, he had always stood apart from the other Elves in his kingdom. True, he was well liked and respected by both commoners and noble-Elves alike, and led as busy a public life as anyone of his station would. Many clamored to serve beside him in battle or on diplomatic missions. Many more clamored to share his bed. And did. He had not lied to Ellie when he had told her he was no monk. But not once, during his many liaisons, had his heart ever been engaged. And no one--save for his father, the King--really knew him.

It was said that some Elves could only love once in their immortal lifetimes. Legolas had always believed himself to be one of those. But it was ironic, almost comical, that the one person who would finally steal his heart should turn out to be so inappropriate.

He watched her now, across the clearing, while she talked--talked!--to Bill the Pony and brushed his shaggy coat. It had become a habit of hers to lavish attention on the small horse at the end of each day, after the Fellowship had made camp. Like all Elven beings, she loved animals and found pleasure in caring for them. But only Ellie would think to treat the tired, old roan as if he were one of the mearas*. Shaking his head in bewilderment, Legolas asked himself for the thousandth time what it was about her that tugged so hard at his heartstrings. He didn't have an answer.

As if sensing his scrutiny, Ellie turned toward Legolas and gave him a shy smile. The late afternoon sun shone on her face, coloring her fair skin a soft golden hue, and bringing out brilliant flecks of gold and green in her large, dark eyes. With his keen Elven eyesight, he could see them clearly, even from a distance. She had such beautiful eyes, Legolas thought, their unusual color reminding him of the deep forests of his home. And he shook his head again.

What was he to do? He needed to be near her, wanted desperately to touch her, but given their situation and her Ilissan heritage and what it portended, he was reluctant to take her for a lover. That he could seduce her he had no doubts--despite her assertions that Ilissans only coupled to conceive. He was experienced enough to recognize the budding desire Ellie bore for him, even if she was not yet aware of it herself.

But if he did seduce her, then what? She would not be able to stay with him and remain true to her Ilissan heritage. And Legolas doubted she would choose him over her beliefs. No, almost certainly, she would leave him to grieve for all eternity, with the memory of her searing flesh forever branded on his body.

He would not walk down that path. It was better to pull back now before his heart became even more entangled.

Of course, he had not expected to have to contend with an infatuated Ellie bent on driving him insane.

From the start, Ellie had found the beautiful Elf strangely compelling. The more she learned about Legolas, the more in awe she was of him. She had never felt physical desire for another person before, and at first did not recognize its faint stirrings within her body. But by the end of their second week together, she could not be near him without quivering. And whenever she accidentally brushed against him, or they casually touched one another, her blood became a raging, boiling torrent racing inside of her. She wanted Legolas—and the idea to mate with him and conceive a daughter took hold of her. The thought that she might be in love with him (which soon became apparent to everyone else in the Fellowship, including Legolas) never crossed her mind, for such romantic notions were forbidden to Ilissans.

Ellie thought it would be an ideal pairing for many reasons. Not only was he a Prince with an impeccable lineage, but, being an Elf, he possessed the very qualities and abilities that she wanted to strengthen in her own bloodline. Moreover, he was—without a doubt—the most beautiful person she had ever met, and if her daughter were to inherit even a fraction of his physical beauty, she would count herself doubly blessed. And, Ellie genuinely liked Legolas, and considered him a friend--which did much to allay any fear she might have felt about being intimate with someone for the first time. Finally, but not the least important, was the fact that his realm in Mirkwood was located far to the north of the woods of Lothlorien. She did not think she would have to worry about Legolas interfering in the life of her daughter. Ellie and Jamie and her daughter would be able to remain in Lothlorien for as long as they desired it—or were welcome. And she would be able to stay true to her vows as an Ilissan.

She had chosen the Elf before she was ever aware that he craved her touch. And at first she didn't know how to go about seducing him--or that she even could. But an incident a few days later changed her whole outlook.

The Fellowship had set up camp beside a small lake, high in the rocky, forested foothills of the Misty Mountains. In the early hours of the morning, just before dawn and while her companions still slept, Ellie arose to find Gandalf awake and smoking his pipe.

"You are up early, little one," he whispered to her.

"I know. I thought to take a bath before everyone else got up. I'm so filthy, Gandalf!" Ellie whispered back, wrinkling her nose in distaste. She was, and he didn't deny it. They all were, even Legolas, although he somehow managed to look cleaner and tidier than everyone else. If she was going to get him to want her, than she would have to at least look just as clean.

It wasn't that she necessarily smelled bad, for like most Elves, the scent of the woodlands clung to Ellie like a second skin. But her dress was in tatters, mud-stained and wrinkled, while her braids and skin felt gritty from weeks of accumulated dirt and grime. She knew she must look ghastly.

Ellie had intended to go into the water fully clothed, but when she found a secluded spot that could not be seen from the campsite, she quickly changed her mind. It was unlikely that Gandalf would sneak up on her to take a peak, and the pre-dawn sky was so dark that even if he did, he would hardly be able to see anything! As she reached back to loosen the laces of her dress, Ellie giggled at the thought of the old wizard coming to spy on her.

She stripped quickly, eager to get out of her dirty clothes, and approached the shore. Crouching in the cold, lapping water, she vigorously scrubbed her dress against the large, smooth pebbles that littered the lake bed. Once Ellie was satisfied that it could get no cleaner, she spread the dress out to air dry on a nearby shrub.

And then she cheerfully ran into the lake and submerged herself. Most people would have been stunned--if not outright paralyzed--by the freezing temperature of the water. But, as an Ilissan and an Elf, Ellie was impervious to the cold. Indeed, she found the pure, mountain water both refreshing and exhilarating. And as she swam back and forth along the shore, with precise, even strokes, her cares and her troubles were washed away along with the dirt.

Ellie lost all track of time. When she began to tire, she turned over on her back and floated peacefully in the gentle waves. And was soon lulled asleep.

She woke up with a start just as the eastern sky began to lighten. "Oh, gods, I have tarried too long!" she exclaimed. And to her dismay, she discovered that she had drifted to the other side of the lake during her slumber. It was a long swim back, and with each stroke that she took, Ellie grew more anxious that someone would come looking for her.

Someone did. As she climbed out of the water, Legolas stepped out of the shadows with her wet dress in his hand.

"Gandalf was beginning to worry," he told her, with a mild rebuke in his voice. "So was I." But Ellie couldn't tell by looking at him. His face was completely devoid of expression, his eyes guarded, as he briefly looked her up and down. Indeed, he seemed to be made of stone.

Ellie was too shocked to be embarrassed. For a moment she gawked at him and wondered just how long he had been waiting for her. "I'm sorry. I fell asleep," she told him.

"I know. I saw you." And Ellie had her answer.

She shivered, but not from the cold, and Legolas moved in close. "Here, let me help you," he said calmly, pulling the dress over her head. She didn't even think to protest. And then, as if she were a small child, he guided each of her arms through the sleeves and slowly drew the dress down over her slender body, his long, elegant fingers skimming lightly over her wet skin, trailing fire wherever they went. Ellie gasped, and his eyes returned to her face and appeared to coolly assess her.

How can you remain so unmoved, she wondered as she stared back at him, when I feel as if I have been thrown into the very fires of Mount Doom? She briefly considered wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. But she had never done such a thing before and his aloof manner put her off. Disheartened, Ellie almost gave up hope that she would ever be able to seduce Legolas. Lowering her head so that he would not see the tears that suddenly pricked her eyes, she allowed herself to be gently turned around.

"I will tie your laces now," he said in the same soft, impassive voice. But this time, as he touched the skin on her back, she felt a slight trembling in his fingers. It was barely perceptible, and at first she thought she had imagined it, but she hadn't. The trembling was there. And it was enough to tell her that he was not as indifferent to her as he was pretending to be. Ellie's heart exulted.

She might have turned around and kissed him right then, if Aragorn and Boromir hadn't shown up at the lake shore. But it didn't matter. Ellie knew that it was only a matter of time now. She was confident that she could persuade Legolas to lie with her when the right moment arrived.

Her first opportunity came sooner than she could have hoped for…

*mearas--the fabled horses of Rohan that were said to be able to communicate with Men.